We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a

high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly,

Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi." He pounded his fat baby hands

on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth

was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose

pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of

would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and

unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose

was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to

smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.

"Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?"

Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi"

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man

.

The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal

came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty

cake?

Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for

Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid row bum,

who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through

the meal and headed for the door.

My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking

lot.

The old man sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out

of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer to

the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might

be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms

in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled

himself from my arms to the man's.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their

love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny

head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw

tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and

hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back.

No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood

awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes

opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice,

"You take care of this baby."

Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that sounded as if it contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were

in pain I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am,

you've given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a muttered

thanks.

With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I

was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my

God, forgive me."

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny

child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and

a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind,

holding a child who was not.

I felt it was God asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a

moment?" when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man,

unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the Kingdom of God , we

must become as little children."

If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on.

Many are the times we entertain angels unaware... I have had a few experiences my self on my unusual path way through life... So watch who you judge or pass comment on... I am just as guilty as many of us... May GOD forgive us, I pray....